6 Keys to Mastering Descents

Few things in cycling are as blissful as a long, winding descent, but if you want to maximize speed, you need to do more than kick back to admire the scenery. Downhill scorcher and former national criterium champion Antonio Cruz shares his advice on finding the mix of speed, stability, and maneuverability that results in the fastest safe way down.

Find Your Balance

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The straight-on downhill stance is, of course, low and aerodynamic: hands on the drops of the handlebar, elbows bent and tucked in, and, if you aren’t pedaling, pedals level, knees slightly bent and tucked in, and butt slightly out of the saddle for balance and mobility. You’ll need to experiment to find the right front-to-back position for your body. The trick is to notice how subtle shifts in body position affect stability as you descend. When both wheels feel glued to the ground, you’ve hit the jackpot: this is your basic descending position.